Truss



TRUSS Filed Das.

2 Sheets-Sheet N. E. @HEARD TRUSS Filed DSC. l2, 1927 i i the truss of Figure l.'

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r Appiiction med December `.1

'This invention relates to built-up Vmetal trusses and the like andzmoreparticularly to light weight metal "trusses for use as AIioor joists, rafters, pnrlins, steel poles and simi- 5 lar structural purposes where strength and light weight are required; i

'Une object is to provide a structure of this type which is composed of few parts and can;

befreadily assembled. 10.. Another object iste provide a structure ci this typ'e with an efficient and positive interlock at'points'where the componentparts join or intersect, and to construct the truss so thatl this interlocking 'eliect lwill-increase i5 asthe loa-d increases.

' In the drawings- A -Figure 1 is a side elevation of a t ported between two wall sections. f Figure 2 isa perspective plan view showruss snpdetails in the punching of the top chord membersof Figure l.v Figure 3 shows perspective views illustrating the-way in which the ends et' the web members ofthe trusses are cut, bent and interlaced inv constructing a truss embodying my invention. Figure -4i shows perspective views illus- 'tx-ating the )Nay the endsof the web mene bers of Figure V3 are interloclred with 'and'secured to the chordmembers' in constructing- `F'O'ure 5 is a side.elevation and Figure 6 l 'a plan of the endbracing members of the web of the truss of Figure l. i

A Figure'is a perspective view show ing details in the construction of the lower spacing piece, and Figure -8 is a similar perspective showing details in the construction ofthe upper spacing piece of my improved truss.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan showing the #assembled parts forming the Atruss and Figure l0 is a similar plan showing the same parts after the chord members have been re ceived lengthwise relatively to one another i5 in constructing the truss.-`

Referring more particularly to thedraw- "ings, the letters A and B' designate the top @and bottomchord members'as a whole, which are joinedsby diagonal'la'cing members 2 and end braces g 'f The chords A and Bare shown cfnnpvosed-` of rolled metal angle shapes 4 and 5, arranged back to back in spaced relation to permit t e lacing and bracing members 2 'and 3, re# s ectively, to be mounted therebetween. It

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2', 1927. serial iioleasgezi.

will be understood, however, that channels or other shapes may be used to form the chord members, if desired.

The lacing members 2 which form the web of the truss may be' formed from bars,.angles or other sections or shapes, and have' their ends flattened, as at 7, so as to extend into the space between the shapes forming the chords.

` The attened ends 7 of the lacing members are cut or recessed to form integral tongues 8 which are bentA at right angles to the body ofthe lacing members so as to project through suitableapertures or slot-like openings 9 in the shapes 4 and 5. forming the chords when the truss is assembled.

After -the lacing members 2 are completed they are interlocked. That-is, they are ar- 'ranged in their diagonal position withtheir ends i'` overlappingandwith the tongues 8 on one lacing member extending oppositely 'to and into the spaces between the' tongues oi theiother lacing member.

After the lacing members are thus assembled they are assembled'with the chord members A and Bby passing the tongues 8 thro-ugh the openings9 in the shapes 4 and 5 and moving the members 4 and 5. lengthwise relative' to each other. This relative lengthwise movement oi theshapes 4 and 5 forces the shapes 4and-5-to move'inwardly along the tongues 8 toward eacli other and locks the Whole-assembly together. The tongues 8 may then be pressed or .hammered down ragainst the back walls ofthe shapes 4 :md5 to form a permanent structure. f A

It will be noted also that when the parts are thus assembled the tongues 8 of thelacing members willbc brought approximately op. posite cach' other, so that whenthe tongues are subsequently pressed or hammered down `a tight joint will-result.

in order to prevent the shapes 4 and 5, forming the chord-membersA and B, from sliding back and allowing the 4joints to open up such shapesmust be locked in position. gcc This maybe accomplished by various well known mean s,`s uch as-riveting or bolting, but preferably said shapes will be held in place by the self-locking end braces 8, shown iii the drawings, which braces lock.l the pairs of los om an angle section bent to fit the truss. me

so as to extend through suitable slots or openings 17 in the chord shapes l and 5.-' The tongues-16 entend on an angle to the vertical center lineof the truss so that when the truss is assembled they will tend to exert opposite forces on the shapes l and 5- and thereby lockl said shapes in positionf The end braces 3 arek disposed on a less slope or inclination than the diagonal lacing members 2 and, therefore, the tension in the braces 3 will be large and the projections or.tongues 16 will be vforced to draw the shapes el and 5 togetherqvith increasing force as the load on the truss increases, thus locking the whole truss together; The tongues 16 itwill be understood will be preferably bent or`- hammered down when the truss is assembled,

Suitable spacing or filler pieces l1 9- and 2Q are`provided at the points where the end braces 3 join or connect with the top and bot-` 'y tom chordsA and B vto completely fill the form a seat 21 upon which the'truss end rests. The method of assembly of the truss -is space between the shapesfl and 5. The upper spacing piece is 'preferably formed from a short length of angle and cooperates with the upper' terminal end of the end braces 8 to shown -in Figures 1-9 and 10. These figures show diagrammatically, by the arrows 25, the longitudinal movement necessary to assemble the top chord shapes 1 and. 5. A similar movement is also necessary to assemble'the bottom chord shapes 4c and 5. lThe manner in whichthe self-locking ends are fitted is also 1 villustrated in these gures.

From the above it will befreadily understood that I`have provided' a light weight truss structure wiich may be readilj assembled, is cheap to manufacture, and. embodies maximum strength for its weight.'

While l have only illustrated onespecilic embodiment of my invention it willbe under-y stood that l do not wish to be limited thereto since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

bottom chord members, each of said chord.

members being composed of a pair of rolled angle shapes arranged in spaced-relation back to ach, a plurality of diagonal lacing mem-u bers connecting said upperand lower chord members, said lacing members having their ends projectinginto the space between the rolled shapes forming saidchord members,

said shapes being'provided with spaced apertures vin their backs, andinteg'ral tongues' on 'reeaeeo said lacing members adapted to project through said apertures to .lock said chord membersy and lacing members together.

2. A truss structure composed of top and Ybottom chord members, each of said chord members being composed of`a pair' of rolled angle shapes arranged in spaced relation baclr to back, a plurality ofjdiagonal lacing niembers connecting said upper and lower chord members, and end bracing members extending diagonally between said top and bottom chord members, said end bracing' members being .provided with a plurality of integral tonguemembers which project through suitable 'apertures in said ehordmembers to lock said bracing members and chord members togetlier, and said bracing members having a v lesser' inclination than said lacing members.

A'truss structure composed oftop and bottom chord members, each of said chord members being composed of a. pair of rolled angle shapes arranged in spaced relation back to back, a plurality of diagonal lacing members connecting vsaid upper-and lower chord members, and .end bracing members cxtendingdiagonally between said top and.

bottom' chord members, said end bracing members having a lesseri'nclination than said lacingniembers, said lacing members and said bracingmembers having their ends-projecting into the space between thefbacks of said rolled shapes forming-,said chordmembers, said shapes being provided with'spaced apertures in their backs, and integral tongues on said lacing members and saidbracing members which proj ect through said apertures to lock' said lacing members, bracing members and chords together.

4. A truss structure composed of top and l bottomchord members, and diagonal lacing members connecting said chord members, said lacing members being'interlocked at Ltheir `ends with `each-other andpwith said chordmembers. 5. A. truss'structure composed of top and bottoni chord members, and diagonal lacing llll members connecting said chord members,

said lacingmembers being provided-with integral tongues at each end, the tongues on said lacing'members being interloclfzed with thev tongues of the next adjacent lacing meniberand with said chord members.

6. A truss structure composed of top' and bottom chord members, each of said chord vmemberslbbin'g composed of apair of rolled angle shapes arranged in' spaced relation back to back, a"'pluralitygof diagonal lacing members connecting said-upper and lower iis* chord members, said lacing membershaving Y their ends projecting into the space between the backs of, said rolled shapes forming saidl chord members, said shapes being provided with spaced apertures, in their backs, said lacing members .being provided with integral tongues extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said lacing members, said tongues on said lacingmembers being 1interlo'clied with thetongues of the next adj a1 cent lacingl member and projecting through said apertures in saidshapes forming said chord members, and means for locking'said shapes forming said chord membersagainst relative longitudinal movement.

7. A truss structure composed of top and bottom chord members, each of said chord members beingjcomposed of a pair of rolled metal angle shapes arranged 1n spaced relation back to back, a plurality of diagonallac# ing members connecting said upper yand lower chord members, said shapes forming each of said chord members being. provided with a series of spaced apertures in their back walls, said lacing members -havingI their ends projecting into `the spaces between the vbacks `of said rolled shapes forming said chord members and being provided with y integral `tongues at each end which extend through some of said apertures in saidchord members, and end bracing members havingtop andbo tom terminal portions extending parallel wit 1 and into the-space between the backs of said4 rolled shapes forming said chord members, said terminal portions being provided with a plurality of integral tongues extending at substantially rightv angles to the Vertical axis of said chord members and on an angle to tlie vertical center lof said truss, said tongues being projected through other .of

` said apertures in said rolled shapes whereby said rolled shapes will be automatically v locked inposition by said e'nd bracing members When said structure 1s assembled' structure.

Y '8. A vtruss structure composed of top and bottom chord members, each of said chord members being composed of a pair of rolled metal angle shapes arranged in spaced relation back to back, a plurality of diagonall laclmg members connecting v said Aupper and lower chord members, said shapes formin l each of said chord members being provide with a .series of spaced apertures in their back walls, said lacing members having their ends projecting into the spaces between the backs of said rolledy shapes, forming said cliord members and being provided with integral tongues ateach end which extend through ,some of said apertures in said chord members-and end bracing members having top and bottom terminalportions extending parallel with and into the space between the 'backs of said rolled shapes forming said chord members, said terminal portions being provided with a plurality. ofA integral tongues l In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

NORMAN B. OBBARD. 

